Shelton Shuttle

Rating: SKII

Distance: 13NM

Date: Sept. 5, 1998

Leader: Tom Carroll Participants: 7

Launch: 09:45 Return: 2:30

Weather: Clear, ~70F, Calm

Description: Put in at Walker County Park near Shelton. Rode the outgoing tide out through Hammersley Inlet and crossed Pickering Passage over to Hope Island State Park for lunch. Waited on Hope for the tide to change and rode the flood back to shelton. A very easy trip with tons of current assist.

Tides/Currents: Plan this trip to coincide with the ebb and flood. Currents can reach 3 knots…it’s a great ride.

Charts:

Waterproof Chart #30 – Puget Sound – International Sailing Suppply.

Puget Sound Current Guide – Island Canoe, Inc.

Chart #18457 – Puget Sound – Hammersley Inlet to Shelton.

Chart #18448 – Puget Sound – Southern Part.

Notes:

1. Current assist makes for an easy trip. Eddys and rips near the mouth of Hammersley are a great place to play.

Directions to Launch Site: To Walker County Park. From I5 @ Hwy 16 it takes about 1 hour (48 miles). Take I5 south to Olympia, then take Exit 104 to Shelton (Hwy 101). Follow 101 to Hwy 3 to Shelton. As you enter Shelton and pass the "Arcadia" road you’ll start downhill towards the bay and city…..near the beginning of this downhill turn right on Fairmount. Fairmount goes down to the inlet and becomes Walker Park Road. Follow it until you see the Walker Park sign on your left. Launch from a pebble beach.

Our usual lunch stop is around the inlet shown here on the

south end of Hope Island. (Aerial photo copyright by the

State of Washington Department of Ecology). For additional

photographs of Hope Island or Hammersley Inlet visit:

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/apps/shorephotos/scripts/mapsearch.asp?id=603

Facilities:

1. Walker Park has bathrooms…everywhere else, use the woods.

Sample Magazine Submittal: Launch from the parking area at Walker County Park at 9:30. Ride the ebb out of Hammersley Inlet and land on Hope Island for lunch. After lunch we will ride the flood back to the launch site.

References:

Bailey, Jo, and Carl Nyberg. Gunkholing in South Puget Sound. Seattle: San Juan Enterprises, Inc. 1997. Pp. 264, 273-275.

Campbell, Ken. A Sea Kayaker’s Guide to South Puget Sound. Tacoma: Self-Published. 1997. P. 65-67.

Scott, James W., and Melly A. Reuling. Washington Public Shore Guide. Seattle: University of Washington Press. 1986. pp. 242-245.

Washburne, Randel. Kayaking Puget Sound, the San Juans, and Gulf Islands. Seattle: The Mountaineers. 1996. pp. 42-45.